No Question About That - a Manchester United podcast

#1063 | Manchester United have given Michael Carrick more time, with no date, no number of games and no target attached. Ed and Dharnish look at what has to change in the meantime. The press comes first: a half-press in which players arrive late, leaving United’s back-four exposed. The build-up has lost its triangles and possession dominance that offers no control.

United’s defence is disorganised and the most experienced centre-backs are built for a deep line, which limits how aggressively Carrick’s team can press.

Then there’s a look ahead to Chelsea at the weekend, a team that scores freely but with a questionable defence. And ahead to the midweek game against Roma’. Gasperini’s team likes to press man-to-man. The verdict is that not all of United’s problems is tactical, but the rest is out of Carrick’s hands.

0:00 Intro: Carrick gets more time
4:08 What’s gone wrong with the pressing
8:32 How Carrick could fix the press
14:19 Buildup and central progression
18:13 Defensive frailties and the rest defence
21:33 Meltdown mode and managerial patience
23:51 Platforming players: picking the XI
27:26 Chelsea preview
30:52 Roma and Aston Villa
35:26 Wrap-up

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#1062 | Michael Carrick looks set to be sacked after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, coming off the 4-1 loss at Como. Ed and Daniel go through the game and the week around it. If this is the end, Carrick went out with a statement: Bruno Fernandes criticising the staff in public then sitting on the bench without being used.

Then the disintegration of Carrick’s time at United, with the manager increasingly reaching for odd solutions as the season fell apart. With the squad giving Carrick very little in recent weeks, the conversation turns to the owners and executives who decide what happens now. The same guys who picked Ten Hag and Amorim and Carrick decide who’s next, with Eddie Howe probably the favourite.

In the short term United need to manage the crisis, but with a summer of expiring contracts and more investment needed than is likely, does a new manager really change anything?

0:00 Match Reaction
3:47 Bruno vs Carrick
11:08 Team Selection & Tactics
16:35 Season in Freefall
19:09 The Owners
23:56 Who’s Next?
34:59 Eddie Howe
51:09 What Happens Next?

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#1061 | Manchester United were beaten 4-1 at Como in the Champions League. Ed and Dominic try to make sense of it.

United’s pressing does not work; the players asked to lead it cannot do it, and Como passed through United at will.

Carrick’s vision for the team is slipping by the week. How much is that on Carrick and how much on a club run by the same people who hired and fired ten Hag and Amorim, with a squad that was barely improved in the summer?

Carrick probably won't go yet, though the November break and the January window are the usual moments for change.

There there's Bournemouth at Old Trafford this weekend and a manager running short of options.

0:00 Intro: United spanked by Como
4:02 United’s press isn’t working
15:31 Sponsor break
16:50 Ownership
27:21 The game itself: the goals
30:15 Squad and recruitment
40:55 Bournemouth preview
51:18 Wrap-up

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#1060 | Michael Carrick changed the system at Elland Road and United came home with a 1-1 draw. It was closer to a street fight than a football match for much of it. Ed and Dharnish go through United’s approach and performance, including a back three and Bruno Fernandes pushed out wide. It wasn’t very pretty but at least United matched Leeds for physicality before the second half slipped away.

The point leaves United on two wins from 10 across all competitions this season. The question on everybody’s lips is how long Carrick has? More defeats over the next few weeks will increase the pressure on club and manager.

Then, what does a growing injury list mean for United’s trip to Como in the Champions League.

0:00 Carrick changes the system
0:46 Leeds away: a proper scrap
2:46 What’s going on with Bruno?
6:37 Fight and physicality, but no football
17:22 Should Carrick be sacked?
26:03 Does Bruno need a rest?
33:24 Preview: United vs Como
42:26 Final thoughts and sign-off

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*Apologies for the dodgy audio on this week's episode*

#1059 | Ed, Dharnish, and Daniel open in meltdown mode. Manchester United have two wins from nine and the latest crisis is the fallout from Lisandro Martinez’ criticism of Jason Wilcox.

The tactics tell the story. United conceded after 50 seconds at Atletico with five players in one zone and nobody closing down. They had used a 4-4-2 mid-block against Spurs and were pulled apart anyway.

The diagnosis is a team caught between pressing high, sitting deep, and dominating the ball. Masters of none.

From there, we work through questions around Yoro, Maguire, Martinez and De Ligt at centre-back. Then there’s Leeds’s 3-5-2 to deal with at the weekend and what Como will ask of United next week.

0:00 Meltdown mode
1:35 Pressing problem vs Atlético
5:24 High press or mid-block?
7:51 Spurs: the 4-4-2 falls apart
9:58 Squad building and Carrick’s vision
14:57 Centre-back questions: Yoro, Maguire, De Ligt
18:29 Ball dominance isn’t working
25:00 Predicted XI vs Leeds

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